We've got more exciting Pokémon news today after yesterday's announcement of the Asia Players Cup, The Pokémon Company has revealed the release date for the mobile version of Pokémon UNITE! The game, which is currently only playable on the Nintendo Switch, will arrive on Android and iOS devices, 22 September 2021 - just over a month away before you can play this Pokémon-themed MOBA on your smartphones.
For those of you not in the know, Pokémon UNITE is Nintendo's take on the free-to-play MOBA genre. Two teams of 5 players, each player controlling one Pokémon, on a symmetrical battlefield. Each Pokémon grows stronger by winning fights, and teams win games by scoring more points than the enemies before the time runs out. Points are scored by catching wild Pokémon on the map (the non player characters) and turning in those points at your opponent's goals to destroy them. The game has been on the Nintendo Switch since July and will reach a wider audience once it comes to mobile.
Based on what we've seen about the game, it looks like it could be a lot of fun for Pokémon fans looking for a different kind of game. While it probably won't hold a candle to games like Dota 2, League of Legends and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, it could serve as a gateway game for people looking to get into the genre. We're definitely going to check it out once it's available so stay tuned to eGG Network for more news! To pre-register for the game, head here for Android and here for iOS.
Hardcore Pokémon players in the region, rejoice! All those years spent training your Pokémon can finally be put to good use. If you fancy a ticket to the Pokémon Global Exhibition to play against the best Pokémon Sword/Shield players in the world, you're in luck. ESL and The Pokémon Company announced the launch of the Pokémon Asia Players Cup 2021.
As the very first multi-regional online tournament for Pokémon Sword/Shield in Asia, we'll get to see trainers from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand show off their Pokémon skills to win the title of best in the region. The winner will secure a slot to the Pokémon Global Exhibition in October and the Travel award to the 2022 Pokémon World Championships.
This tournament sounds like something a younger me would have jumped at the chance to compete in (twenty years ago). But for those of you who are interested now, registration for the tournament is open and qualifiers will kick off on 28 August. Head over to the official ESL website to sign up. No mention of any broadcasts at the moment, but we would be surprised if it wasn't televised. Stay tuned to eGG Network for more news and updates!
Nintendo Switch consoles will now be made in Malaysia in addition to China and Vietnam. Curious on why this is so? Nintendo Co has actually added Sharp Corp as an assembler of the gaming console. This was done to stabilize production and hedge against US-China trade tensions according to people directly involved in the matter.
The Malaysia factory involved in the production line is owned by Sharp, according to sources that asked not to be identified. Nintendo’s main assembly partner Foxconn Technology Co, a key unit of Foxconn Technology Group, owns a Sharp stake and helped connect the two Japanese companies, they added.
While the coronavirus outbreak initially disrupted production, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said that output has returned to normal this month and that the Switch will now be made in Malaysia, in addition to existing China and Vietnam locations. He added that those assembly lines aren’t running at full capacity at the moment and that the first batch of consoles will hit store shelves soon.
Nintendo has been diversifying its supply chain since before the COVID-19 era and mentioned at this month’s press conference that the Malaysia addition is part of the effort. Bloomberg News also reported that Nintendo plans to release an upgraded version of the console. It will likely support 4K graphics to help extend the Switch’s life cycle.
We condensed a rather financial / business heavy related article for you eGGlets. For the more curious and inquisitive, the full article can be perused over at Bloomberg’s website.
Amidst the current new norm, picking up a Switch may not sound like a bad idea if the price is just right for Malaysians.
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